Drop device



Nov. 27, 1951 s. KIRSCHENBAUM DROP DEVICE 2 SHEET-S'-SHEET 1 OriginalFiled Jan. 1, 1942 [NI EN TOR.

4Tr0k/vEy Nov. 27, 1951 s. KIRSCHENBAUM DROP DEVICE 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2Original Filed Jan. 1, 1942 l N VEN TOR.

A TTOQNEY Patented Nov. 27, 195i 'UN'ITED STATES ATELNT. OFFICEContinuation: f; application Serial No. 425,274,. January 1,.19421. Thisapplication J'ul'y9, 1945,

Serial No. 603,818

This invention relates generally to drop de vices. More particularly, myinvention relates to an improved construction for automatically actingdrop bottles and the like;

One of the objects of my invention is to pro- 1,

vide a highly improved construction for a drop bottle or similar articleof the class described, in which the liquidxf'rom. a bottle or similarcontainer may be automatically dispensed in the form of uniform sizeddrops by inverting or tilting the bottle and in which such drops may becontrolled as to size and rate of flow.

Another object of my invention. is to provide a drop bottle of theclass" described in which the liquid dispensed from the bottle in the.form of drops will be prevented. from overrunning to the outer surface.of the said bottle thereby maintaining the bottle or container in clean,dry state at all times.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a drop device of theciass described having means. for controlling the flow of liquid fromabottle' or similar-container and which is adapted for use in connectionwith any' standard form of bottle or similar container now in use.

A further object of m invention is to proyide, in a drop bottle of theclass described, meanswhereby the unused or excess liquid will Theautomatically drawn back into the bottle when the said bottle is placedin normal upright position after use.

Still another object of my invention is to provide an improved dropbottle construction of the class describedwh-ich shall be characterizedby the simplicity of its parts and the ease of assembly thereof; whichshall lie-relatively inexpensive to manufacture; which shall becharacterized by the p'ositiveness andpreci'sion of itsaction atalltimes and which shall represent a great improvement in the: art of dropdevices.

Other objects of my invention will in part be obvious and in part;hereinafter pointed out.

This application isa continuation of my copendi-ng application, SerialN93. 425,274., filed January I, 1942; for Drop Devices which is nowabandoned.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of ccnstruction,combinations of elements or parts which will be exemplified in theconstructions hereinafter described and of which the" scopeofapplication will be indicated in the claims.-

In. the accompanying dra-wings,v which. is

- shown anumber or the various possible embodiments ef; invention;

S'Gl'aims. (01. 222-421) Fig. I is an. enlarged vertical: sectional viewof the upper portion of a: drop bottle constructed and arranged inaccordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a topplan view. thereof with the: protectivecovering removed;

Figs; 3', 4 and 5' are-cross-sectional views taken substantially on the.lines 3-3, 4-4; and 5-5 of Fig. 1;:

Fig. 6- is anelevat-ionalview, partly in; section, oftheFigsz. 1 to 5form of. my invention and illustrating' theoperation thereof;

Figs. 7 and 8' are fragmentary elevational views thereof, illustratingthe manner in: which: my invention is used;

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view, partly in elevation and similar to:Fig. '1, but illustrating a modified" form of myinvention;

Fig. 10 is across-sectional View taken substantially on the line tor-J0- ofFig: 9

Fig. L1 isa fragmentary elevational. view,. similar to Fig. 7-; butillustrating'the manner of. use ofthe- Figs. 9- and-l0 form of myinvention;

Fig. 12 is a cross-sectionalview; similar. to. Fig. 5, but illustratinganother modified form of my invention; I

Fig..l3 is avertical cross-sectional view similar to- Figs. L and 9 butillustrating still: another modified! form. of my invention; and

Fig-14v is-a cross-sectional view similar to Figs. 1, 9- and. 1-3 but ofreducedsize: and. illustrating a further modification. ofmy invention.

In the type of. drop bottles or. similar devices heretoforemanufactured, certain disadvantages of construction were found. to be.inherentthere- For example; in. additionto the. irregularity of flow,neither the speed nor the size of the drops could: be. controlled. It!was also found that after use, the liquid;- from the bottle would smearover the mouth ofthe bottle. as wellwas the outer surface thereof..would result in damage to furniture or other articles upon which thebettles' were placed. When oils were used the container becameparticularly messy. Another disadvantage was found in the fact thatshould, thebottle he. accidentallytipped over, the liquid therefromwould spurt from: the opening much tothe. annoyance and discomfort ofthe user;

By myinvention; soon to be described I have been able toovercome theabove described disadvantages and' to.- provide an improved drop bottlehaving at the same time many additional advantages not. present inprior. constructions.

Referring: now detail to= Figs. L to 8: ot the drawings, I haveshown adrop device constructed and arranged in accordance with my invention andcomprising generally a container for liquids, such as oil, acid,perfumes, etc., which in this case I have shown, for purposes ofillustration, in the form of a bottle 20. The said bottle 26 maycomprise, in addition to the main body portion 2|, the usual narrow neckportion 22. Integral with and extending from the neck portion 22 is afurther constricted portion 23 forming an opening 24 for the bottle.Into this opening 24 there is received and held by friction or by anyother known means, an elongated plug member 25 made of any suitablematerial, such as, metals, plastics and the like which are impervious tothe type of liquid contained in the bottle and which it is desired todispense in drop form. Glass has been found to be very satisfactory. Theplug member 25 may comprise a portion 25a extending within the bottle, aportion 25b extending outside of the bottle and preferablyinterconnected by'a constricted neck portion 250, the purpose andfunction of which will soon be explained.

It is understood that in order for the liquid in p ber part 25a withlongitudinal open capillary grooves 25 (see Figs. 1 and in the outersurface thereof. Thus it is seen that when the bottle is tilted orturned upside down for use, a certain amount of the liquid will bepermitted to pass from the bottle through the passageway formed by thegrooves 26 to be drawn out and to collect on the outwardly extendingplug part 25b from whence it will ultimately fall off in the form ofdrops.

While in the drawings, I have shown that part of the plug number 25which engages the opening 24 to be of circular cross-sectional contour,to conform to the shape of the bottle opening 21!,

and as having six circumferentially spaced vertical grooves 28, it isunderstood that the said plug part as well as the opening 24 may be ofany desired cross-sectional shape, and that any desired number ofgrooves may be employed disposed in i any direction, an essential partof the above described construction being that there be provided somecapillary space between the plug member 25 and the opening 24 for thepassage of air and/or fluid. It is also here noted that if desired theopening 24 may be slightly tapered and the plug member part 25a alsotapered to maintain the same in proper position and to prevent the plugmember 25 from slipping through the opening 24 and at the same time toobtain a better grip.

In Fig. 12, I have shown another means for obtaining the desired spacebetween the plug member and the bottle opening into which it isreceived. In this Fig. 12 form of my invention, I have shown the opening24 as having the same circular cross-sectional shape as that shown inFig. l, but the plug member 25 instead of conforming in cross-sectionalcontour is made dissimilar, in this case of octagonal contour. Aplurality of spaces or capillary passageways S for air and fluid arethus provided. 1

In accordance with my invention, I have found that I am able to alter,or in other words control the rate of flow of the liquid from the bottleby altering the total amount of space between the plug member and theadjacently disposed wall of the bottle opening. I have found that thelarger the said total amount of space, the faster the rate of flow ofthe liquid, and that the smaller the said total amount of space, theslower will be the rate of flow. This is true up to certain limits, ofcourse, and is dependent upon the type of liquid used.

Thus for example, the three different drop bottles constructed asillustrated in Figs. 1, 12 and 14 will each dispense drops at adifierent rate In Fig. 12, a larger total space than in the Fig. 1 isprovided, while in the Fig. 14 form the total space is decreased byshortening the length of the passageways.

I have also discovered that by making the plug part 25b, which extendsoutside the bottle, of slightly enlarged size with respect to theremainder of the plug I can retard the time when there will besufficient liquid collected on the plug part 252) to form the first dropwhich will ultimately fall therefrom by the force of gravity.

My invention also contemplates the provision of a chain of opencapillary grooves on the outer surface of the outwardly extending plugportion 251), the said chain comprising the grooves 30 and 3|interconnected with each other. In accordance with my invention the saidinterconnected chain grooves 30 and 3| communicate directly with thecapillary passageways 26. One effect of the above described arrangementof grooves is that of holding the liquid on the plug part 251), so thatthe said liquid will be prevented from forming into a dropand fromfalling off at any point except the area adjacent to the extreme tip ofthe said plug part 2511.

If desired a similar chain of interconnecting open capillary groovescomprising the grooves 26a and 27, may be provided in the outer surfaceof the inwardly projectin plug portion 25a,

the said chain of grooves communicating directly with capillarypassageways 26. By such construction, I have found that when the bottle20 has been restored to its normal upright position, after use, thecapillary grooves 26a and 21 connecting with the capillary passageways26 will draw the liquid remaining on the plug downwardly to ultimatelydrop off and return to the liquid contents of the bottle as illustratedby the drop 35 shown in dotted linesin Fig. 1 of the drawings.

To prevent any of the liquid contents of the bottle from overrunning tothe outer surface of the neck and body of the bottle during and afteruse thereof the following construction is provided. The opening 24 ofthe bottle 20 is made to terminate in an outwardly flared rim 36. Thisflared rim is so designed as to be turned away from the drop and not tocut the same at any time. In addition to the flared rim 36, the neckportion 250 of the plug member 25 may be disposed in the area of thesaid flared rim 36. It .is thus seen from the above describedconstruction that when the bottle is tilted or turned for effective use,as for example, in the manner shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings, liquidfrom the interior thereof will pass through the passage grooves 26 tothe outer plug part 25b. The capillary grooves 30 and 3! will break thesurface tension of the emerging liquid and cause the same to cling toand flow on the plug part 25b.

The enlarged space surrounding the plug: part 2511 formed by the flaredand 3d of the opening 24' and: the neck: 25c. will prevent anyaccmnu-lation of' liquid on the rim of the flared end 36 and thus:prevent any of the liquid from overas shown in Fig. 6. of the drawings,no liquid will escape fromthe' bottle.

It is thus seen that a drop bottle constructed in accordance withinvention: and as above described maybe placed upon. any table or othersurface: without'fear of? damage to: the said s'urface ' If desired: thedrop bottle of my invention may be! provided; with. a. protective; capof. anyslntable construction and: design to prevent: dust. from:collecting on the plug member part 2511 and, in. the

case of volatile liquids, to. prevent. evaporation.

Any suitable means may be employed for attaching the cap. 4 0: to. thebottle, such as, by

- threading the exterior of the neck: portion 22 of the bottle andcorrespondingly threading the inner surface of the bottom edge of thecap.

While: in Fig. 1, I have. shown my invention as applied to a containeror bottle in which the flared neck opening is integral with the: body ofthe bottle, it is understood that my invention may be satisfactorilypractised with a constructi'on in which the flared neck opening may bein the form of a separate: unit-attached to or built into the usual typeof cork closure which in. turn may be inserted in the: opening of thestandard form of bottle the well known manner.

In Figs. 9 and 10', I have illustrated a modified form of my inventionin which instead of the integral flared neck of the bottle shown in theFig. 1 form of my invention or in the above described method employing acork stopper, I'pref'er to use a removable cap unit which may bereceived on the threaded neck of any standard type of bottle now in use.

Referring now to Figs. 9: and 10 there is shown such cap unit 50constructed in accordance with my invention and comprising a cap memberhaving a top wall portion 5! and a depending peripheral wall 52 providedwith internal threads adapted to be threadedI-y received on the threadedneck portion 53 of any standard type of bottle. The top Wall 5i isprovied with a vertically disposed central opening 54 similar in purposeand function to" the bottle opening Z4. Into the openin 5'4 there isreceived a plug member which may be of the same type or construction asthe plug member 25' or which may be of the type, indicated by thenumeral; 55 in Fig. 9, and comprising the parts 55d and- 55binterconnected by a narrowerneck' portion l-Fio. The said plug membermay be provided with. suitably arranged capillary grooves '56 servingthe same purpose: and function as the grooves: 26, Etc; 21', so; and it.To: prevent the liquid from running over to the outside of the bottleduring use I provide the. opening 54 with a flared rim portion 58,similar function andpurpose to that of the flared rim 36. g

I have also discovered that by altering the shape and size of theoutwardly extending: part of the plug member, 1 am able to change: thesize of. the drops dispensed. Thus, for example, with the-typ'eof plug;memberrpart 25h employed in the Fig- .1. formof construction, I obtain amore or less standard size of drop D such as, for example,that-illustrated in 7. However, byconstructing. the extending plugmember part as; in the Figs. 9- and. 14 form of. my invention, IE obtaina split. drop, or a drop d of smaller size, such as, for example, thatillustrated in Fig. 11 of the drawings.

' It is noted that in both of the: Figs. 1. and 9 forms of. my inventionthe plug member may be readily removed and replaced for any desiredpurpose such as for cleaning; or renewal.

. If desired a protective cap, similar to thecap 40,. may be. employed;in connection with; the: Fig. 9 form of my invention, inwhich eventthe'outer surface of the. depending wall 52 may be threaded to receivethe same thereon.

In Fig. 13, I have: shown a modified form. of my invention in which Ihave so designed my plug member that I may selectively obtain differentsizes of drops fromthe same bottle;

In this form of my invention any suitable type of container may beemployed, such as, for example, that shown in Figs' 1, 9, or 14 withvthe same type of outwardly flared opening. The plug member 60, however,comprises a vertically disposed part having a portion 55a thereofextending inside of the bottle and a portion 65b extending outside ofthe bottle. The space between the bottle opening and the plug memberpart 65 may be provided by capillary grooves similar to the grooves 216Instead of permitting the liquid to fall from the plug member part 651)in the form of drops, I provide. an integral horizontal part comprisingthe portions; 6! and 62. The part 6.2 is; larger than the part 6|, sothat if it is desired to dispense standard size drops D, the bottle:must be tiltedwith the said. part 52 pointing downwardly. Similarly,when it. is. desired to usev smaller drops d, the bottle must he tiltedwith the part (it pointing. downwardly Capillary grooves. 63. and 54:maybe provided on the plug member parts BI and. 62 similar in purposeand function to: that; of the capillary grooves. 30 and. 31-5..

In accordance with the provisions. of the pat ent statutes, I have.herein described. the principle and operation of my invention togetherwith the constructions: which I. now consider to represent the bestembodiments thereot, but. I desire to have it understood that. theconstructions. shown are. only illustrative. and that the invention. canbe carried out by other means; Also, while it is designed to: use thevarious features and elements in the combinations and: relations!described; some of. these maybe altered. and others omitted withoutinterfering with the more general results outlined, and the. inventionextends to such use..

Having described my invention, what I: claim and desire. to secure. byLetters: Patent: is r 1. In a drop dispensing. device of the characterdescribed; a container for liquids having a discharge opening, a onepiece plug member in said discharge opening; saidplug member having aportion thereof extending beyond said discharge opening, the portion ofsaid plug: member in said discharge opening being of such crosssectionalcontour with respectt'o said opening as to provide a space therebetweenthrough: which,

- when the container istilted, liquid will flow so that liquidfrom thecontainer may pass to the surface of the said extending plug portion toultimately fall oif therefrom in the form of drops, said upwardlyextending plug portion comprising a portion disposed transversely of thesaid upwardly extending portion, said transverse portion having two endsof different sizes so that different sizes of drops may be selectivelydispensed therefrom, said extending plug portion being provided with atleast one open capillary groove in the surface thereof, said groovecommunicating directly and at all times with said space between saidplug member and said opening, the wall of said discharge openingsurrounding said plug member terminating in an upward and outwardlyflared portion whereby the liquid will be prevented from passing to thelip of the container and will stay on said outwardly extending plugportion to be dispensed therefrom.

2. In a drop dispensing device of the character described, a containerfor liquids having a discharge opening, a one piece plug member in saiddischarge opening, said plug member having a portion thereof extendingbeyond said discharge opening, the portion of said plug member in saiddischarge opening comprising at least one capillary groove in thesurface thereof communicating with the interior and with the exterior ofthe container to provide a path through which, when the container istilted, liquid will flow so that liquid from the container may pass tothe surface of the said extending plug portion to ultimately fall offtherefrom in the form of drops, said extending plug portion beingprovided with a chain of open capillary grooves in the surface thereof,each groove of said chain of grooves connecting directly with anothergroove of said chain, and at least one groove of the said chain ofgrooves communicating directly and at all times with said capillarygroove in said plug member portion in said discharge opening.

3. A drop dispensing device according to claim 2 in which the saiddischarge opening surrounding said plug member terminates in an upwardand outwardly flared portion.

4. In a drop dispensing device of the character described, 'a containerfor liquids, said container having a normal opening, a closure memberfor said opening, said closure member having an opening smaller in sizethan said normal opening to serve as a discharge opening, a one-pieceplug member frictionally held in said discharge opening, said plugmember having a portion thereof extending beyond said discharge opening,the portion of said plug member in said discharge opening being of suchcross-sectional contour with respect to said opening as to provide aspace therebetween through which, when the container is tilted, liquidwill flow so that the liquid from the container may pass to the surfaceof the said extending plug portion to ultimately fall off there from inthe form of drops, said extending plug portion being provided with achain of interconnecting open capillary grooves in the surface thereof,the said chain of interconnecting grooves communicating directly and atall times with said space between said plug member and said openmg.

5. In a drop dispensing device of the character described, a containerfor liquids, said container having an opening, a plug member in saidopening, said plug member having a portion thereof extending outside ofsaid container, the portion of said plug member in said opening being of'such cross-sectional contour with respect to said,

" opening as to provide a space therebetween through which, when thecontainer is tilted, liquid from the container may pass to the surfaceof the said extending plug portion to ultimately fall 01f therefrom inthe form of drops, said plug member being provided with a portionextending below said opening to a point within said container wherebywhen the container is held upright after use, the liquid remaining onthe plug member will pass to said last named extending plug portionwithin said container to fall off therefrom b the force of gravity andthus be restored to the liquid in the container, said extending plugportions, within and outside of said container, each being provided witha plurality of capillary grooves in the surface thereof for the purposesset forth, the wall of said opening being upwardly and outwardly flared,said extending plug portions being interconnected by a relativelynarrower neck portion disposed adjacent to said flared portion of saidopening.

6. Ina drop dispensing device of the character described, a containerfor liquids, said container having a normal opening, a closure memberfor said opening, said closure member having an opening smaller in sizethan said normal opening, a one-piece plug member in said closureopening, said plug member having a portion thereof extending outside ofsaid container, the portion of said plug member in saidclosure openingbeing of such cross-sectional contour with respect to said closureopening as to provide a space therebetween through which, when thecontainer is tilted, liquid from the container may pass'to the surfaceof the said extending plug portion to ultimately fall oif therefrom inthe form of drops, said plug member being provided with a portionextending below said closure opening to a point within said containerwhereby when the container is held upright after use, the liquidremaining on the plug member will pass to the said last named extendingplug portion within said container to fall off therefrom by the force ofgravity and thus be restored to the liquid in the container, saidextending plug portions, within and outside said container, beingprovided with a plurality of capillary grooves in the surface thereoffor the purposes set forth, the wall of said closure opening beingupwardly and outwardly flared, said extending plug member portions beinginterconnected by a relatively narrower neck portion, said neck portionbeing disposed adjacent to said flared portion of said closure opening.

'7. As an article of manufacture, a drop dispensing closure for acontainer for liquids, comprising a plug member adapted to befrictionally held in a discharge opening in said container so that aportion thereof will project above said discharge opening, an opencapillary groove in the outer surface of said plug member disposed inthe said portion adapted to be frictionally held in said dischargeopening to provide a capillar passageway for the ingress of air and theegress of liquid, and a chain of interconnected open capillary groovesin the outer surface of said member located in the said portion thereofadapted to project above said discharge opening, said chain of groovescommunicating directly with said first named capillary groove and beingso arranged as to gather up and store the liquid on said plug memberuntil it overflows therefrom in the form of drops.

8. As an article of manufacture, a drop dispensing closure for acontainer for liquids, said closure comprising a one piece plug-shapedmember of relatively rigid material adapted to be frictionally receivedand held in a discharge opening of said container in such manner that aportion thereof will always project above said discharge opening, atleast one lengthwise capillary groove in the outer surface of said plugmember disposed in the said portion adapted to be frictionally held insaid discharge opening to provide a capillary passageway for the ingressof air and the egress of liquid, and a chain of relatively angularlydisposed and interconnected capillary grooves disposed in the saidportion of said plug member adapted to project above said dischargeopening, said chain of grooves and said lengthwise groove being directlyand permanent- 15 ly in communication.

SAMUEL KIRSCHENBAUM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,478,891 Combs Dec. 25, 19231,996,533 Weickel Apr. 2, 1935 2,126,731 Burnham Aug. 16, 1938 102,310,777 Giavotto Feb. 9, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date295,690 Germany Feb. 13, 1916

